Mantellidae
The Mantellidae are an amphibian family of the order Anura (frogs and toads), and are endemic to the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar and Mayotte.[1][2] At first glance, the diminutive, brightly-coloured mantellas appear visually similar to (and indeed fill similar ecological niches as) the Latin American poison dart frogs, such as Dendrobates, Oophaga and Phyllobates, among others.
| Mantellidae | |
|---|---|
| Variegated golden frog (Mantella baroni) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Clade: | Ranoidea |
| Family: | Mantellidae Laurent, 1946 |
| Subfamilies | |
| Distribution of Mantellidae (in black) | |
Systematics edit
The family Mantellidae is composed of three extremely diverse groups of frogs, across three subfamilies: the Mantellinae (Laurent, 1946) are typically terrestrial or semi-aquatic frogs, the Laliostominae (Vences & Glaw, 2001) are terrestrial, fairly large frogs, and the Boophinae (Vences & Glaw, 2001) are arboreal tree frogs, sharing far more physical and behavioral characteristics with true tree frogs than the tiny mantellids.
Apart from the genera assigned to the three subfamilies, the actual placement of Tsingymantis (Glaw, Hoegg & Vences, 2006) is still uncertain.[1][2]
As of 22 September 2022, at least 237 species are recognized in this family.[3] DNA barcoding research has shown, however, that more than 100 distinct genetic lineages remain taxonomically undescribed.[4][5]
Evolution and island biogeography edit
The Mantellidae are Madagascar's most diverse frog family.[2] It has been shown that there is a negative correlation between body size and species diversity in this family, which is probably related to the lower dispersal potential of smaller animals.[6][7] This family is estimated to have colonized the island of Madagascar 76–87 million years ago.[8] They are phylogenetically nested within Asian frogs, and therefore probably represent a dispersal event from Asia.[8]
Two undescribed species of mantellid frogs are currently resident on the island of Mayotte, off Madagascar's west coast. These species belong to two genera that are otherwise exclusively endemic to Madagascar.[2]
Reproduction edit
Reproductive modes in the Mantellidae are highly varied. Eggs can be laid in or out of water, on the ground or on leaves, depending on genus and species.[2] Guibemantis frogs of the subgenus Pandanusicola lay their eggs either in phytotelms or over slow-flowing water.[2] Some species of Gephyromantis have direct development or nidicolous tadpoles.[2] Members of the subfamilies Boophinae and Laliostominae have amplexus, but mantelline frogs do not.[2] Parental care is known from a few species (e.g. Mantidactylus argenteus).[2] Sexual size dimorphism is present in most species, with females being larger than males, but there are exceptions (e.g. Boophis albilabris), where males are larger than females, possibly as a result of males fighting for access to females.[2][9]
In captivity edit
Some members of this family are popular in the exotic pet trade for their bright colors (e.g. Mantella and Boophis).[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Mantellidae Laurent, 1946". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2007). A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar (3rd ed.). Cologne, Germany: Vences & Glaw Verlags. ISBN 978-3929449037.
- ^ "Amphibiaweb". Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- ^ Vieites, D. R.; Wollenberg, K. C.; Andreone, F.; Kohler, J.; Glaw, F.; Vences, M. (19 May 2009). "Vast underestimation of Madagascar's biodiversity evidenced by an integrative amphibian inventory". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (20): 8267–8272. doi:10.1073/pnas.0810821106. PMC 2688882. PMID 19416818.
- ^ Perl, R.G. Bina; Nagy, Zoltán T.; Sonet, Gontran; Glaw, Frank; Wollenberg, Katharina C.; Vences, Miguel (2014). "DNA barcoding Madagascar's amphibian fauna". Amphibia-Reptilia. 35 (2): 197–206. doi:10.1163/15685381-00002942.
- ^ Wollenberg, Katharina C.; Vieites, David R.; Glaw, Frank; Vences, Miguel (2011). "Speciation in little: the role of range and body size in the diversification of Malagasy mantellid frogs". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 11: 217. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-11-217. PMC 3199771. PMID 21777445.
- ^ Pabijan, Maciej; Wollenberg, Katharina; Vences, Miguel (2012). "Small body size increases the regional differentiation of populations of tropical mantellid frogs (Anura: Mantellidae)". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 25 (2012): 2310–2324. doi:10.1111/j.1420-9101.2012.02613.x. PMID 22998688.
- ^ a b Crottini, Angelica; Madsen, Ole; Poux, Celine; Strauß, Axel; Vieites, David R.; Vences, Miguel (2012). "Vertebrate time-tree elucidates the biogeographic pattern of a major biotic change around the K–T boundary in Madagascar". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 109 (14): 5358–5363. doi:10.1073/pnas.1112487109. PMC 3325728. PMID 22431616.
- ^ Andreone, Franco (2002). "Boophis albilabris (NCN). Defensive behavior". Herpetological Review. 33 (4): 299–300.
External links edit
- Mantellidae taxonomy